This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

Natasha Dowie has already caught the attention of Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool's prolific striker is on the brink of marking her first season since crossing the Mersey divide with a league championship medal.

Arsenal's nine-year reign as champions is over, and Liverpool hold a two-point lead over their last remaining challengers heading into Sunday's final round of the season. In a twist of fate, their visitors Bristol Academy are the one team that can deny them the trophy.

England international Dowie has scored 19 goals in 20 appearances for the Reds this season, and backed up that form by netting as a substitute for her country against both Belarus and Turkey in the past week.

She caused a stir locally by quitting Everton last November with team-mate Fara Williams to join ambitious Liverpool, and her hat-trick in the derby earlier this month rubbed Blue noses in it.

But Dowie has no regrets, and with Rodgers, Liverpool owner John W Henry and the men's first team all keeping close tabs, the 25-year-old niece of former Northern Ireland striker Iain Dowie is thrilled to have silverware within touching distance.

After five years at Everton, a chat with Reds manager Matt Beard about the investment that would be going into the Liverpool Ladies set-up persuaded Dowie it was time to switch allegiance.

She said: "I'd been at Everton for five years and I just felt like I needed a fresh start and I needed to push myself a bit more.

"I spoke to Matt (Beard) about the plans at Liverpool, with trying to go as full-time as possible, and how much the men would be supporting us, so for me that was a real positive thing.

"We had a training session with them at the beginning of pre-season which was great. We joined in and got to meet the first team and had breakfast with them.

"I know they take a real interest. Brendan Rodgers texted the gaffer to say 'Tell Natasha congratulations on her call-up to England and her hat-trick', so they're paying attention."